Lime Coconut Bars Recipe

Lime Coconut Bars Recipe

When I was planning a menu for a luau party, I found this refreshing dessert in my mother's recipe collection. Sometimes I'll garnish each bar with a dab of whipped cream and a small slice of lime.
-Mary Jane Jones, Williamstown, West Virginia

Directions

Place the crushed cookies in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in coconut; set aside 1 cup for topping. Press the remaining mixture into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, for filling, combine the butter, sugar, lime juice, cornmeal and salt in a heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved and cornmeal is softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg yolks. Stir a small amount of hot lime mixture into the yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until a thermometer reads 160° and mixture coats the back of a metal spoon, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in lime peel.

Pour over the crust; sprinkle with reserved coconut mixture. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.Yield: 16 bars.

Editor's Note: The cornmeal is used as a thickener in the filling.

Originally published as Lime Coconut Bars in Reminisce Extra
June 2003, p53

Place the crushed cookies in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in coconut; set aside 1 cup for topping. Press the remaining mixture into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, for filling, combine the butter, sugar, lime juice, cornmeal and salt in a heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved and cornmeal is softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg yolks. Stir a small amount of hot lime mixture into the yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until a thermometer reads 160° and mixture coats the back of a metal spoon, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in lime peel.

Pour over the crust; sprinkle with reserved coconut mixture. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners' sugar.Yield: 16 bars.

Editor's Note: The cornmeal is used as a thickener in the filling.

Originally published as Lime Coconut Bars in Reminisce Extra
June 2003, p53